Retirement Fund for Religious

Aging religious need our help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others - educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the oppressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and in need of assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious supports basic necessities, such as prescription drugs and nursing care.

A second collection is typically conducted throughout the Diocese of Gaylord during the second Sunday in December. For 2016, St. Mary Cathedral distributed informational flyers and gift envelopes the weekend of December 3/4 to be returned the weekend of December 10/11. There is still time to give - simply return your gift in an envelope marked "Retired Religious Fund" and place in the regular collection or return to the parish office.

In addition to what you are able to give this year, please keep all of our aging religious in your prayers.

"Be faithful to your prayer life and have a sense of humor," says Sister Rita Polchin (foreground), a member of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Danville, Pennsylvania. "That's my advice for a long, happy life." And, at age 87, she ought to know. Through nearly 70 years of religious life, this philosophy has served her well, especially as she ministered in Catholic schools. "One year I had a class of 54 students," she recalls with a smile, "but they were all good!"

Like Sister Rita, the senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests shown here - and some 33,000 more across the nation - have offered their lives in service and prayer. They have educated the young, cared for the sick, and spoken for the oppressed. Many, including Sister Rita, continue to serve. Others need assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide nursing care, medications, and other necessities. Please be generous.